Two people were killed when Russian drones struck the Starokozache border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday, as the warring nations exchanged heavy long-range attacks despite renewed diplomatic efforts.
The overnight attack on the Starokozache road crossing, about 500km south of Kyiv, also wounded three others, according to Odesa regional head Oleh Kiper. Images from the scene showed several burnt-out cars among debris. The crossing has been closed.
A Moldovan driver was among the injured, Moldova's foreign ministry confirmed. Moldova has increasingly found itself caught up in the conflict, with Prime Minister Vasile Tofan saying 17 drones struck Moldovan territory in August alone — more than during the whole of last year.
"Those who ignore or downplay these threats — and refuse to name the aggressor — are denying reality," Tofan wrote on social media. "Russia started this war. Russia alone bears responsibility."
In the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, a woman was killed and 14 people, including two children, were injured when a Russian drone hit a nine-storey residential building, officials said.
In Russia, four people, including a child, were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, according to Russian officials. A drone also struck an industrial facility in the Arctic city of Novy Urengoy, nearly 3,000km from Ukraine.
Zelensky renewed calls for international support, saying "the aggression must be stopped here and now before it spreads any further."
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Both sides have recently stepped up long-range strikes despite ongoing diplomatic initiatives to end the war.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The strike on a border crossing draws Moldova, a non-NATO member, directly into the conflict, raising fears of a wider regional escalation.
- Civilian casualties in Kyiv, Novorossiysk, and the border area underscore the intensifying toll of long-range drone warfare.
- The attacks occur amid fresh diplomatic efforts, highlighting the difficulty of negotiating a ceasefire while strikes continue.
Background
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. In recent months, both sides have increasingly used long-range drones and missiles to strike infrastructure and population centers far from the front lines. Moldova, which borders southwestern Ukraine, has reported repeated drone incursions, particularly in August 2026, straining its neutrality.
Key Perspectives
Ukraine (President Zelensky): Calls the aggression an immediate threat that must be stopped now to prevent wider spread, and urges sustained international support.
Moldova (Prime Minister Tofan): Denounces downplaying of the threat, insists Russia alone bears responsibility, and warns that ignoring incursions risks normalising aggression.
Russia: Claims its strikes target military infrastructure; has not commented on the border crossing attack. Russian officials reported fatalities from Ukrainian drone attacks on Novorossiysk and Novy Urengoy.
What to Watch
- Further drone strikes on Moldovan territory and any potential Moldovan response or appeal to allies.
- Reactions from NATO and the EU, particularly regarding Moldova's security.
- Whether the renewed long-range strikes derail ongoing diplomatic initiatives.